Trenching-tool.



No. 892,027. PATENTED JUNE so, 1908.

E. B. GAHO0N. TRENGHING TOOL.

APPLICATION I'ILBD 00131, 1907.

INVENTOR-. asses EVereflB. Caboon HTTORNEY.

EVERETT B. OAHOON, OF AKRON, OHIO.

TRENGHING-TOOL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 30, 1908.

Application filed October 31, 1907. Serial No. 400,126.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EVERETT B. OAHOON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Akron, in the county of Summit and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Trenching-Tools, of which the ollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to tools for cutting trenches in the sod or earth along the edges of sidewalks, curbstones and similar places, and the object thereof is to provide a device for this purpose which is of simple construction, easily manipulated, strong, durable and efficient in use.

The invention contemplates producing a device constituting a carrier embodying a plurality of cutting wheels for making a perpendicular out along the edge of a sidewalk, curbstone or similar place and further provided with an extended arm adapted to carry a blade arranged to make a cut at an acute angle with the cut made by the wheels for the purpose of forming a V-shaped trench along the sides of sidewalks and such places.

A further object of this invention is to so construct the device that variously-formed cutting blades may be interchangeably employed in the device, whereby difierent forms and depths of trenches may be produced, as well as trenches having different angular formation in transverse section for the pur pose of making the tool universally adaptable for all places where such a device would be ordinarily employed. The invention also and further contemplates providing the same with an operating handle whereby the same is ushed ahead of the operator and also provided with suitable means for attaching a rope or chain to the device for pulling the same to assist the manipulator of the device in progressively moving it forward where the conditlon of the soil is such that one manipulator cannot apply sufficient force to cause the same to properly perform its function.

Other advantages constituting objects of this invention will more fully appear in the subjoined description.

A practical embodiment of this invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which similar reference numerals indicate like parts-in the different figures.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective of myimproved tool; Fig. 2 a plan view of the same; and, Figs. 3 and 4 separate views of two forms of cutting blades which I employ in the device.

Broadly speaking, the invention consists of a carriage provided with a Jan of wheels in longitudinal almement wit each other of difierent diameters the smaller of which is mounted and adapted to precede the latter in making a cut and further provided with an extended arm from which depends a rearwardly-extending blade arranged to make an inclined cut in the sod or earth approximately meeting the perpendicular cut made by the wheels.

Specifically describing the device shown in the drawings, thereference numeral 1 denotes a T-shaped horizontal carriage. At the opposite ends of the head portion of the carriage 1 are a pair of bosses 3 and 4 each carrying a short stub shaft indicated in the drawings by dotted lines but not specifically referred to by reference numeral. On the shaft projecting from the boss 3 is mounted a cutting wheel 5 provided with a fluted laterally-projecting hub 6. This wheel and hub are preferably made integral and are held on the stub shaft by means of a washer 7 held in place by means of a holdfast, device 8. On the stub shaft projecting from the boss 4 is a cutting blade 9 larger in diameter than the cuttin wheel 5 and also provided with a fluted hub 10 held in lace by means of a washer 11 securely hel d to the end of the stub shaft by means of a holdfast device 12. For reasons to be later described, the cutting wheel 5 is thicker and smaller in diameter than the cutting wheel 9. The extended stem portion of the carriage 1 is preferably provided on its under surface with a strengthening rib 13 and on its upper face with a pair of ears 14 through which extends a bolt 15 on which is pivotally mounted the socket end 17 of a manipulating handle 16, terminating in an eye which incloses the belt 15. Preferably immediately in front of the cars 14 is a loop 18 to which may be attached, if desired, a rope or chain to be used by an assistant 0 erator in pulling the machine if the nature of the soil be such that the device cannot be properly propelled by the manipulating han dle 16. The extended end 19 of the stem of the carriage 1 is provided with a plurality of perforations through which are passed holdfast devices such as screws 20 for securing a cutting blade to the under face thereof.

In using this device experience has demonstrated that it will be sometimes necessary to alter the shape,-length, curvaturejor inclination of the cutting blades forming the inclined portion of the trench, and hence in order to illustrate the adaptability of the machine for making trenches of different cross sectional configurations, I have shown two forms of blades, designated in the drawings by the reference numerals 21 and 22, shown in Figs. 3 and 4. These blades are each provided with an upper fiat end 23 having openings 24 through which the holdfast devices 20 may extend for securing them fixedly to the under face of the end 19 of the carriage 1. The blade 21 is used for making a narrow trench by inclining the cut made thereby at a sharper angle with the cut made by the wheels 5 and 9 and the blade portion 25 thereof extends directly from the fiat portion 23 downwardly and rearwardly; while in the case of the blade 22 the flat portion 23 thereof is bent back towards the wheels 5 and 9 and the blade thus extends from the end 19 of the carriage, thereby making a wider cut by emloying this blade than will be made by the lade 21..

In the drawings Fig. 2 shows both blades in position showing the relative difference which exists between them, thereby enabling the reader to understand the differences in cuts made by the two blades, although in practice these two blades are not used together only one being necessary to properly make the inclined cut. It will be apparent that any other form of blade may be secured to the outer end 19 of the carriage 1 by means of the holdfast devices 20, thereby making the tool a more universal one with respect to the cross sectional configuration of the trench produced thereby.

In Fig. 1 the blade 22 is shown fixedly secured to the carriage and in proper relation with respect to the balance of the mechanism. In operation the device is placed in position on a sidewalk, curbstone or other place where a trench is to be cut in the sod or earth adjacent thereof and in placing this tool in position the cutting wheels 5 and 9 are forced into the sod or earth immediately adjacent the edge of the sidewalk or curbstone until the fluted hubs 6 and 10 bear upon the upper surface thereof for the purpose of limiting the depth of the cuts which the wheels 5 and 9 make. In doing this it will be necessary for the operator to force the frame forward slightly in order that the cutting knife, whatever its shape may be, will be carried downwardly into the earth or sod so that its point will be immediately adjacent the cut made by the larger wheel 9.. The device is then pushed forward by means of the manipulating handle 16 and if necessary this operation is aided by means of an assistant pulling a rope or chain attached to the loop 8. The cut made by the wheel 5 will be comparatively broad and shallow so that the wheel 9 will travel in the cut made thereby and produce a deeper and finer cut adjacent the edge of the curbstone or sidewalk.

The object of making the cutting wheel 5 thicker than the wheel 9 is to permit the latter to follow in the cut made by the preceding wheel, thereby reducing the friction necessarily attendant upon the use of two wheels of even thickness. Simultaneously with the cut made by the wheels 5 and 9, the cutting blade secured to the stem end of the carriage 1 will make an inclined cut corres onding in shape and inclination to the b ade by which it is produced, said cut terminating at a point sufficiently near to the cut made by the wheels as to permit the ready removal of the detached strip of sod or earth cut free by these two instrumentalities. As before stated, any form of cutting blade may be secured to the stem end of the carriage which will produce a desired form of trench.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A device of the kind specified comprising a carriage, a plurality of revoluble cutting wheels in longitudinal alinement mounted thereon, and a cutting blade carried by said carriage arranged at an angle to said wheels.

2. A device of the kind specified comprising a carriage, a pair of revoluble cutting wheels in longitudinal alinement mounted thereon, means for limiting the depth of the cut made by said wheels, and a cutting blade carried by said carriage arranged-at an angle to said wheels.

3. A device of the kind specified comprising a carriage, a pair of revoluble cutting wheels in longitudinal alinement mounted thereon, a cutting blade carried by said carriage arranged at an angle to said wheels, and means for detachably securing said blade to said carriage.

4. A device of the kind specified comprising a carriage, a pair of revoluble cutting wheels in longitudinal alinement mounted thereon each provided with a laterally-pro jecting hub, and a cutting blade carried by said carriage arranged at an angle to said wheels. I

5. A device of the kind specified com rising a carriage, a pair of longitudinally allned cutting wheels provided with hubs having irregularly-formed peripheries, and a cutting blade carried by said carriage arranged at an angle to said wheels.

'6. A device of the kind specified comprising a carriage, a pair of cutting wheels of different diameters arranged in longitudinal alinement, and a cutting blade carried by said carriage arranged at an angle to said wheels.

7. A device of the kind specified comprising a carriage, a pair of cutting blades of different thicknesses arranged in longitudinal alinement with each other revolubly mounted thereon, and a cutting blade carried by said carriage arranged at an angle to said wheels.

8. A device of the class described comprising a carriage, a pair of cutting wheels difiering in diameter and thickness revolubly mounted in longitudinal alinement with each other, and a cutting blade carried by said carriage arranged at an angle to said wheels.

9. A device of the kind specified com rising a carriage, a pair of cutting Wheels 0 different diameters for forming perpendicular cuts the smaller of said cutting wheels being in advance of the lar er, both of said cutting wheels being revolub ly mounted on said carriage, and a cutting blade carried by said carriage arranged at an angle to said wheels.

10. A device of the kind specified comprising a carriage, a pair of revoluble cutting wheels in longitudinal alinement mounted thereon, a cutt ng blade carried by said carriage arranged at an angle to said wheels, and a manipulating handle secured to said carriage.

11. A device of the kind specified comprising a carriage, a pair of revoluble cutting wheels in longitudinal alinement mounted thereon, a detachable cutting blade carried by said carriage arranged at an angle to said wheels, and a manipulating handle pivotally secured to said carriage.

12. A device of the kind specified comprising a carriage, a pair of revoluble cutting blades in longitudinal alinement mounted thereon, a cutting blade carried by said carriage arranged at an angle to said wheels, and means on said carriage for securing a pulling instrumentality thereto.

13. A device of the kind specified comprising a carriage, a air of revoluble cutting blades in longitudinal alinement mounted thereon, a cutting blade carried by said carriage arranged at an angle to said wheels, a pair of ears projecting from said carriage, and a manipulating handle pivotally secured between said ears.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EVERETT B. CAHOON. Witnesses:

C. E. HUMPHREY, GLENARA Fox. 

